ABSTRACT
Increase in the initiation and duration of exclusive breastfeeding is a priority by the UK Government, The Royal College of Paediatric and Child Health and many governments across the world. It has long been established as a goal within the World Health Organization (WHO). The initiatives are built on robust evidence for the improvement of children's health by receiving breastmilk. More recently breastfeeding has also been coupled with a lowering of the risk of obesity both in childhood and in adulthood although evidence for this is less substantial. For the mothers who have chosen to breastfeed there may have been many barriers to overcome. In addition to the awareness of the positive advantages of breastfeeding for their baby, there is an emotional aspect to breastfeeding that can have a major impact upon the mother's frame of mind as well as the mother– child relationship. The chapter also presents an overview of the concepts discussed in this book.
